Marketing Assistance
Learning how to market produce is just as important as learning how to grow it. NESFP helps beginning farmers with marketing by helping them to develop marketing plans prior to planting, and by inviting them to join the World PEAS Cooperative.
As a part of the Farm Business Planning Course, you will develop a marketing plan, including the products you plan to produce, and the markets (farmers markets, stores, restaurants, etc.) you plan to sell to. NESFP will assist you to put your plan into action by helping you to make market contacts, connecting you to insurance resources, and providing guidance regarding how to sell your products to different types of customers.
One marketing option popular for beginning farmers is participation in the World PEAS Cooperative (WPC) , which is a collective of beginning and other farmers in the region. WPC sells farm produce to CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) members, Farmers' Markets, and the Whole Foods grocery stores. Our 2007 CSA has 45 members from 7 Massachusetts communities. Selling much of their products through WPC lifts some of the strain of having to market and sell produce for beginning farmers, and allows them to concentrate on other aspects of their businesses. World PEAS has a Board of Directors comprised of immigrant and refugee farmers and it is in the process of deciding upon a legal structure independent of NESFP.
For more information on marketing, contact Suliman at 978-654-6745, skamara@comteam.org
